FROM

A stunning palomino stallion born in northwestern Nevada, Sutter was
captured from public lands when he was barely two years old. Immediately
following his capture, he was adopted to a private party through the Bureau
of Land Managementís horse adoption program. During that time, Sutter
endured tremendous abuse, including being whipped and left tied up under a
hot tarp, and kept from food and water.

Traumatized by this experience, Sutter was deemed ďdangerousĒ and
returned to the Bureau of Land Management marked to be destroyed. He was
fortunately rescued and cared for by the Heritage Discovery Center (HDC),
who would be a future colleague of Return to Freedom

For months, Sutter was so traumatized that if anyone even walked nearby
his enclosure, he would slam himself into walls, attempting to free himself.
With time, patience, and loving care, Sutter learned to trust humans again,
appearing at venues including the Rose Bowl Parade, where he safely carried
a novice rider, as well as in a number of educational documentaries and
clinics.

When the HDC was forced to move and downsize in 2002, they contacted Neda
DeMyo, founder of Return to Freedom, so that Sutter would find a safe
forever home where he could continue to be an ambassador for wild horses
through programs, clinics and events. Since that time Sutter has resided at
Return to Freedomís
American Wild Horse Sanctuary, where he continues to not only thrive,
but inspire equine awareness, rescue, and advocacy through his presence and
story which is emblematic for tens of thousands of nameless and faceless
wild stallions.

Sutter loves to connect with people, and is a stirring ambassador for the
dwindling number of horses who deserve our promised protection on public
lands. Sutter also reminds us all that when we extend love to animals, we
receive it back, multiplied. For these reasons, Sutter is the 2016 ASPCA
Horse of the Year.

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